Cleveland Museum Proves Rock 'N' Roll Is Here To Stay

September 12, 1999|by RANDY KRATT, The Morning Call

Despite its name, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum is much more museum than it is hall of fame.

It is promoted as the world's first museum dedicated to the living heritage of rock 'n' roll. You can learn about musicians you may never have heard of and get reacquainted with others you may have forgotten.

"We're the only place that covers the entire legacy of the music in a comprehensive way," said Moore. "We cover the entire genre, the worldwide impact of rock 'n' roll."

Trying to be comprehensive is a challenge, acknowledged Moore. Whenever you try to cover everything, you risk doing justice to nothing. Some people do come hoping to find more about their favorite groups or their kind of music than they find in the museum.

"But the flip side of that is you always have a limitless pool of subject matter you can delve into," said Moore. He said the museum's curators constantly are collecting new things and putting them on display. Exhibits change frequently.

The hall of fame was designed by I.M. Pei, perhaps the world's most famous contemporary architect.

It's called the House That Rock Built and "the only building specifically designed to shake, rattle and roll."

The building is a majestic landmark, perhaps too majestic for its subject matter. It's kind of like having a bar band perform in the East Wing of the White House.

Rock 'n' roll seems to demand something less grand, something both darker and gaudier, grittier and more blue collar.

Yet, if you agree that rock is the true poetry of the second half of the 20th century, perhaps all the light and loftiness is appropriate.

Films, videos and music give the place life. The museum is not a quiet place. There seems to be a constant barrage of music, often different songs coming from several places at once --not exactly the way I grew up listening to rock 'n' roll.

"It is going to be loud," said Moore. "It is a rock 'n' roll museum. We tried to create the atmosphere of a rock concert in certain areas."

In several areas, you can put on headphones and touch screens to hear thousands of songs. (Not all the headphones work.) I decided to listen to Marvin Gaye sing "What's Goin' On?" But even with headphones covering my ears, I could still hear music coming from other places. Such exhibits need sound booths.

And the technology is not flawless. I hit "more" thinking I'd hear another Marvin Gaye tune. Instead, the Beach Boys were singing "Surfin' USA."

I tried listening to Buffalo Springfield's "For What It's Worth." But every time I tried punching up that group, I got Shadows of Knight singing "Gloria."

Visiting the museum put me in the mood to watch a live performance by a rock band. Moore said many visitors feel the same way. Such performances are offered on Wednesday nights all summer, by both local and nationally-known bands. "We had Bad Company about a month ago," said Moore. He said this year the museum is considering offering weekly concerts into fall and winter.

The museum has started fund-raising for an expansion project that will add a concert hall with up to 700 seats. Moore estimated that facility won't be completed for about four years.

Most exhibits are on the ground level of the six-level museum. After entering the exhibit area, which has black lights in the floor and photos of rock legends on the walls, you can get in line to enter a theater. Actually, you will enter two theaters. Warnings are posted that "this film contains mature subject matter and language."

One segment shows Madonna being warned she'll be arrested if she does a masturbation scene, to which she replies: "What's considered masturbation?"

Black-and-white photos pay tribute to the early influences on rock, including The Ink Spots, Woody Guthrie, Bessie Smith, Louis Armstrong, Jimmie Rodgers and many others.

How long you stay in the museum depends on how long you can read, listen and watch before you are overwhelmed. Most visitors stay three to six hours. I spent four hours and felt I did the place justice. I would have stayed longer, but it was closing time.